Hyderabad: Child bride married to 65-year-old Omani for Rs. 5L
What's the story
In a disturbing reminder that child marriages and forced marriages are still rampant in India, a Hyderabadi schoolgirl was married off to a 65-year old Omani Sheikh by her maternal aunt. The girl's childhood was snatched away in exchange for Rs. 5 lakh. Her parents complained to Hyderabad's Falaknuma police station; her mother, Syeeda Unnaisa, said the incident took place three months ago.
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I will die, girl tells her parents
The victim's parents have been requesting authorities in Hyderabad to help them get their daughter back from Muscat. In one of her messages to her parents, the girl said, "If you don't save me and take me from here, I will die."
Complaint
Daughter married off without mother's knowledge
Syeeda Unnaisa alleged in her complaint that her sister-in-law Ghousia "colluded" with her husband Sikander to "fudge" the travel documents. She said the husband-wife duo performed the nikah (marriage) of her daughter, an eighth class student, at a hotel in Barkas area with the help of a Qazi before Ramzan. Ghousia and Sikander were paid Rs. 5 lakh for the illegal contractual marriage.
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Syeeda Unnaisa's statement
In her complaint, Syeeda stated: "The Sheikh is saying he had bought my daughter for Rs. 5 lakh. He said this was paid to Sikander (brother-in-law). Only if this amount is paid, he said he would send my daughter back to India."
Investigation
Maneka Gandhi wants Sushma Swaraj to intervene
Union Women & Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi requested External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to rescue the child marriage victim from Oman. She said the incident was "deeply disturbing", adding she asked Hyderabad's Commissioner of Police to investigate and identify the people involved. The Minister asked the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPR) to contact the girl's family members.
Twitter Post
Maneka Gandhi tweets about the incident
I would request Smt. @SushmaSwaraj to intervene and bring the girl back to India from Oman.
— Maneka Gandhi (@Manekagandhibjp) August 17, 2017
Information
Not the first case in Hyderabad
Forced child marriages are rampant in Hyderabad where girls from economically-backward families are married off to Arab Sheikhs by Qazis or relatives. The Sheikhs, mostly old men, come to Hyderabad and choose "suitable brides" and pay amounts ranging from Rs. 10,000 to several lakhs.